Pastor:  Dr. Paul T. Murphy

Dr. Paul T. Murphy was born and reared in Sylacauga, Alabama. He is married to the former Deborah Lister of Mobile. They are the proud parents and grandparents of four adult children, including one daughter, three sons, one granddaughter and two grandsons.

Dr. Murphy graduated valedictorian from Sylacauga High School in 1975. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Magna Cum Laude and area award in religion) in 1979. He also earned a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1983 and 1993 respectively.

His preaching and pastoral ministry has spanned thirty-eight years, including an associate at Dauphin Way Baptist Church, pastor of Twelfth Street Baptist, Gadsden and First Baptist, Arab. He served in various capacities for The Alabama Baptist Convention and The Southern Baptist Convention.

He has served as Mission Team Leader to Guatemala, Paraguay, Brazil, Spain, North Africa, Cana Islands, Indonesia, Haiti and conducted numerous evangelist efforts.

Minister of Students and Youth: Bryce Laird

Bryce Laird is originally from the small town of Grant, Louisiana. He graduated from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication. He is currently enrolled at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary pursuing a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry. Bryce was called to the ministry at 20 years old. He has served a youth minister for multiple SBC churches in southwest Louisiana.